Wall construction



April 23, 1968 A. G. IMBRECHT 3,378,970

WALL CONSTRUCTION Filed March 18, 196e E 22? 22 INV NTOR L16 R/'UR G. MBREHT C/G.

y@ 9@ AT'TONEYS United States Patent fice 3,378,970 WALL CONSIRUCIION Arthur G. lmhreclit, Long Beach, Calif., assigner to Hupp Corporation, Cleveland, Ubin, a corporation of Virginia Filed Mar. I8, 1G66, Ser. No. 535,393

. 13 Claims. (Cl. 52-238) The present invention relates to improvements in movable interior wall constructions and more particularly to improvements in the construction of movable or temporary wall panels for use in providing iioor to ceiling partitions in rooms having suspended ceilings.

If a movable or temporarily erected panel is to provide a complete iloor to ceiling partition, it is necessary to provide a filler of some sort to compensate for the difference between the length of the panel and the length of the tioor to ceiling spacing. At least a minimum such Spacing is essential to permit easy and rapid erection of the panels. A larger than minimum spacing normally exists since floor to ceiling spacings vary substantially even when of a common nominal value. The panels embodying the present invention compensate for these special variations by providing a channel shaped cap or filler member telescopically received over the top of the basic panel. When these caps are lifted, they in effect extend the height of the panel to the ceiling. In one practical form, this extension is up to about four inches.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a novel construction by which the panel caps or filler elements may be easily and rapidly extended to and maintained in extended position to the exact required degree to provide a complete oor to ceiling partition and a more specic object of this invention is to provide such a construction which is suitable for use in rooms having suspended ceilings, a problem which is particularly diicult since such ceilings cannot be subjected to any upwardly directed force.

These and other objects of this invention will become m-ore fully `apparent by reference to the appended claims and as the following detailed description proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE l is a fragmentary elevational view of a partition formed of multiple panels each having ller caps suspended from the ceiling in accord with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 2 2 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal central section through the ceiling attached magnetic coupling element taken effectively along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an end elevational view of one of the spring clips utilized for attaching the ceiling supported magnetic coupling to the exposed portion of a T-bar of a suspended ceiling supporting frame; and

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of the spring clip of FIGURE 4.

Referring now to FIGURE l, each partition constructed in accord with the present invention comprises one or more rigid light weight wall panels such as lll, 12 and 14 of any suitable form extending from the iioor indicated at 16 to a position indicated at lil closely adjacent the level of the ceilinor indicated at 2t). The panels itl, l2 and 14, which may be of hollow wood, plastic or metal construction, are provided with suitable bottom edge strips 22 resting on the floor 16 and suitable side edge strips 24 and 26 which interlock with the corresponding strips on the adjacent panel to form a continuous partition. Along their top edges, the panels are provided with channel shaped space llers or caps 28 which may 'be lifted to ll the space between the top edge 18 and the ceiling to thereby provide a continuous partition bc- 3373,97@ Patented Apr. 23, 1968 tween the floor 16 and the ceiling 2t). It is with the suspension of these filler caps 2S that the present invention is primarily concerned.

Referring to FIGURE 2, the filler caps 28 are preferably channel shaped extensions of plastic or light weight metal such as aluminum or magnesium and have a base wall 3@ and depending side walls 32 and 34 which embrace the upper portion of the panel 12, for example. The base Wall 3d has a depressed longitudinally extending central portion 36. In one practical form, suitable for use with a 2" thick panel, cap 23 is an aluminum extrusion, the height of walls 32 and 34 is 4.000, the spacing between them is 2.0625, the depth of portion 35 is .4315", its width is 1.1175" and the width of base wall 3@ at each side of depressed portion 36 is .5625. As is apparent from FIGURE 1 and 2, a pair of pins 3S and 4@ are fixed, as by screws 4t2, at opposite ends of the depressed central portion 36 of the filler cap Z3 and extend into aligned apertures such as i4 in the top of the panel l2 to provide a telescopic connection between the filler cap 28 and the top edge of the panels. As is apparent from FIGURE l, the filler cap 23 is co-extensive in length with the top edge of the panel l2 so that, when the ller cap 28 is lifted, it provides in effect an extension of the panel. The amount of lift of cap 23 will vary with the ceiling height within predetermined limits but the upper edge of the panels l2 etc. will remain concealed.

As indicated above, the present invention is primarily intended for use in providing floor to ceiling partitions in rooms having suspended ceilings. These ceilings have a suspended metal framework consisting of mutually perpendicular metal bars which are usually of T-shaped cross-section as indicated at lo in FIGURE 2. These bars are hung from the beams of the building with their lower surfaces in substantially a common plane and define a pattern of usually rectangular apertures in which rectangular ceiling panels, such as indicated at 48, may be inserted from beneath and placed in the position to be supported by the flanges of the T-bars 46 to till the apertures and thereby provide a continuous ceiling. Since the metal framework formed by bars d6 is hung rather than rigid, there cannot be any connection between the bars 46 and the partition panels l0, l2, and 14 which exerts upwards or lateral thrust on bars 46.

As applied to such suspended ceiling constructions, it is contemplated by the present invention that the partition to be formed by the panels such as l0, l2 and 1d will be erected in a vertical plane beneath and extending longitudinally of one of the T-bars 46. When so positioned, the filler caps 28 are suspended from the T-bar 46 located above the top of the partition. For this purpose a two part magnetic coupling is provided. This magnetic coupling consists of a first magnetic coupling element Sil iixed to the top surface of the base wall 34) of the filler cap 28 within the depressed portion 36 and a second element 52 detachably secured to the exposed portion 54 of the'T-bar 45. As is apparent from FIGURE 2, when the space tiller 28 is in its elevated position, both elements 5d and S2 are completely concealed from view within the depressed portion 36 and the T-bar 46 is concealed by the base wall 3] from view by any person within the room.

The coupling element St may be a ferromagnetic strip of metal iixed to the cap 28 by any suitable means. In its preferred form the coupling element 52 is an elongated strip of plastic (vinyl) magnetic material of known construction. As is apparent from FIGURE 3, this elongated strip 52 is received within a channel shaped retainer 56 of ferromagnetic material, being secured interiorly thereof against the base wall thereof by a series of rivets 58. Fixed to the channel shaped member 56 at each end are spring clips et) and 62. Clips 60 and 62 are of an identical construction and each adapted when installed to cmbrace the exposed portion 54 of the T-bar 46 as illustrated in FIGURE 2. The spring clips 60 and 62 are fixed to the base wall of the channel shaped member 56 `by any suitable means such as by rivets 64. Spring clips 60 and 62 are formed of spring steel and as is apparent from FIGURES 4 and 5, have an arcuate central section 66 from the opposite edges of which project inwardly directed sections 68 and 70 at acute angles 72. From at least one of the edge sections 70 there is a laterally projecting section '74 which may be manipulated to disengage the clip from the T-bar.

The internal chordal length 76 of the arcuate sections 66 is equal or slightly less than the width of the exposed portion 54 of the T-bar 46 so that the clip will firmly grip the T-bar. By gripping the edge 74 with the lingers and compressing the spring clip, the spring clip may be resiliently detiected to a substantially flat condition of its arcuate portion 66. When in this flattened condition, the spacing between the juncture 78 of the sections 70 and 74 and the juncture of the section 65 with the central arcuate section 66 is slightly greater than the width of the exposed portion 54 of the T-bar so that it can pass therebetween.

In one practical embodiment, the chordal width 76 is 1.000", the radius of curvature of portion 66 is 1.250, the width of portions 68 and 70 is .100, the width of portion 74 is .125, the angle between chord 76 and portions 68 and 70 is 25 and the length of clip 66 as viewed in FIGURE 6 is 1.000.

Referring to FIGURE 1, the magnetic coupling elements 52 are attached to the T-bar 46 in a position such that they overlap the juncture between adjacent panels 10 and 12 and 12 and 14 so that each magnetic coupling element 52 co-acts at its opposite ends with a different magnetic coupling element 50, that is, the magnetic coupling elements 50 on the adjacent ends of the filler elements 28 of adjacent panels.

As is apparent from the foregoing detailed description, when it is desired to erect a partition beneath a T-bar, it is merely necessary to attach the magnetic coupling elements S2 to the exposed portion of that T-bar at intervals spaced apart a distance approximately equal to the width of the panels to be used. For example, if the panels are 4 in width, the center to center spacing between adjacent coupling elements 52 will be about 4. For panels of this width, the coupling elements 52 are preferably about 12" long, providing a 6l overlap along the top of each panel and the coupling elements 50 are each of about 6" in length. When the panels have been interlocked edgeto-edge and erected beneath the T-bar 46, all that is necessary to complete the instalaltion is to lift the filler caps 28 sufficiently so that the coupling elements 50 at their oppostie ends are attracted to the magnetic coupling elements 52 attached to the T-bar 46. The filler cap 28 will then be suspended in the position illustrated in FG- URES 1 and 2 thereby providing a complete oor to ceiling partition. When it is desired to move the partition, the caps 28 are lowered sufficiently to remove the coupling elements 50 from the effective influence of the magnetic field of the magnetic coupling elements 52, the panels of the partition are taken down, and tme magnetic coupling elements 52 are removed from the T-bar 46 by manipulation of the tab or edge section 54 (FIGURE 4) as previously explained.

As is apparent from FIGURE 2, when the clips 60 and 62 are in place, they lift the edges of the ceiling panels 48 slightly from contact with the T-bar 46. As soon as the clips are removed, the panels 4S return to their normal positions supported by the T-bar 46.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description,

and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. For use in erection of a movable room partition between a pair of spaced substantially parallel boundary surfaces of a room, a rigid substantially rectangular wall panel, a space filler mounted along one edge of said panel, said space filler being substantially co-extensive in length with said panel one edge, means on said space filler and on said panel providing a telescopic connection therebetween whereby said space filler can be moved toward and from said panel one edge to thereby effectively change the size of said panel, and means including at least one magnetic coupling element fixed to said filler adapted when said panel is erected to form .part of a partition to be magnetically coupled to a second magnetic coupling element attached to the one of said parallel surfaces adjacent said one panel edge for magnetically maintaining said space filler in its extended position.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said space filler is a channel shaped member extending longitudinally along and embracing said panel one edge.

3. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said parallel surfaces are the fioor and ceiling of a room and wherein said one edge of said panel is the top edge thereof and said one of said parallel surfaces is the ceiling.

The combination defined in claim 3 wherein said last named means further comprises said second magnetic coupling element and cach said second Imagnetic coupling element includes means adapted it to be secured to the ceiling of such a room, each said second magnetic coupling element magnetically co-acting with one of the first said magnetic coupling elements when said assembly is erected to magnetically support said space filler adjacent the ceiling of such a room.

5. The combination defined in claim 4 wherein one of said magnetic coupling elements is an elongated permanent magnet and the other of said magnetic coupling elements is an elongated ferromagnetic strip, and wherein said both of said magnetic coupling elements extend longitudinally of said one edge of said panel when the assembly is erected to form a partition.

6. The combination defined in claim 5 wherein said permanent magnet is a strip of plastic magnetic material.

7. The assembly defined in claim 6 wherein said second magnetic coupling element is said permanent magnet and wherein said adapting means associated with said second magnetic coupling further comprises a channel shaped support embracing said strip of magnetic material, means attaching said strip to the interior of the base wall of said channel shaped support, and spring clip means attached to the exterior of the base wall of said channel.

8. The combination defined in claim 4 wherein said adapting means associated with said second `magnetic coupling element comprises spring clip means constructed and dimensioned to detachably resiliently embrace the exposed portion of a bar of the framework of a suspended ceiling.

9. The combination defined in claim 8 wherein said spring clip comprises an arcuate central section the chordal width of which is substantially equal to the width of such an exposed bar portion, and inturned portions along each edge of said arcuate section and forming an acute angle with the concave surface of said arcuate section and adapted to embrace the edges of such an exposed bar portion.

10. The combination defined in claim 9 wherein said clip further comprises a portion extending laterally from one of said inturned portions and manipulatable to fiex said central section toward a substantially flat configuration to permit such a bar to be inserted between or removed from between said inturned clip portions.

11. For use in a room having a metal framework suspended ceiling, a r-oom divider comprising at least a pair of substantially co-planar panels having interlocking abutting edges and each having a space filler mounted in telescopic relation along the top edge thereof, co-acting magnetic means, at least one of said magnetic means being permanently magnetic, one of said magnetic means being attached to each of said space llers and the other of said magnetic means being adapted to be detachably mounted on the exposed portion of the metal framework of a suspended ceiling whereby, when the panels are erected in alignment with and directly bene-ath a bar of such a framework, said space llers are magnetically suspende-d from the suspended ceiling framework to provide a complete floor to ceiling partition.

12. The combination defined in claim 11 wherein the element of the magnetic coupling adapted to `be attached to the ceiling framework is an elongated plastic permanent magnet of sufficient length to span the joint between the abutting panels and co-acting with ferromagnetic coupling elements fixed to the adjacent ends of the abutting space fillers whereby the adjacent end of the space fillers of abutting panels are supported from said ceiling by a cornmon magnetic coupling element attached to the ceiling framework.

13. A device adapted to -be attached to the framework of a suspended ceiling and to magnetically suspend space filler elements above the top of movable room partitions, said device comprising a channel shaped element, a plastic magnetic strip received and xed within Said channel shaped element, and a pair of spring clips xed to the exterior surface of the base wall of said channel shaped element, said spring clips each comprising an arcuate central section the chordal width of which is substantialiy equal to the width of the exposed portion of the bars used in the framework of a suspended ceiling, an inturned portion along each edge of said arcuate section and forming an acute angle with the concave face of said arcuate section and adapted to embrace the edge of such dn exposed -bar portion, and a further portion extending laterally from one of said inturned portions and manipulatable to flex said central section to a substantially flat configuration to permit such a bar to be inserted between or removed from between said inturned portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,693,949 12/1928 Grimm 52-370 2,235,397 3/1941 Church 52-360 2,951,311 9/1960 `Luther 46-19 2,990,037 6/1961 Fowles 52-238 3,124,725 3/1964 Leguillon 335-303 3,292,328 12/1966` Lewis et al 52-238 FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

HENRY C. SUTHERLAND, Examiner.

P. C. FAW, Assistant Examiner. 

1. FOR USE IN ERECTION OF A MOVABLE ROOM PARTITION BETWEEN A PAIR OF SPACED SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL BOUNDARY SURFACES OF A ROOM, A RIGID SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR WALL PANEL, A SPACE FILLER MOUNTED ALONG ONE EDGE OF SAID PANEL, SAID SPACE FILLER BEING SUBSTANTIALLY CO-EXTENSIVE IN LENGTH WITH SAID PANEL ONE EDGE, MEANS ON SAID SPACE FILLER AND ON SAID PANEL PROVIDING A TELESCOPIC CONNECTION THEREBETWEEN WHEREBY SAID SPACE FILLER CAN BE MOVED TOWARD AND FROM SAID PANEL ONE EDGE TO THEREBY EFFECTIVELY CHANGE THE SIZE OF SAID PANEL, AND MEANS INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE MAGNETIC COUPLING ELEMENT FIXED TO SAID FILLER ADAPTED WHEN SAID PANEL IS ERECTED TO FORM PART OF A PARTITION TO BE MAGNETICALLY COUPLED TO A SECOND MAGNETIC COUPLING ELEMENT ATTACHED TO THE ONE OF SAID PARALLEL SURFACES ADJACENT SAID ONE PANEL EDGE FOR MAGNETICALLY MAINTAINING SAID SPACE FILLER IN ITS EXTENDED POSITION. 